Review: Broken Trail by Jean Rae Baxter

BROKEN TRAIL is the story a thirteen-year-old white boy, the son of United Empire Loyalists, who has been captured and adopted by the Oneida people. Striving to find his vision oki that will guide him in his quest to become a warrior, Broken Trail disavows his white heritage--he considers himself Oneida. But everything changes when Broken Trail, alone in the woods on his vision quest, is mistakenly shot by a redcoat soldier.

Paperback, 246 pages

Published February 1st 2011

by Ronsdale Press

***

There is a trilogy that Jean Rae Baxter has written and while Broken Trail pertains to one of the characters introduced in The Way Lies North (book 1), it doesn't appear to be part of the trilogy.

I find myself really enjoying these books, it’s the kind of book I wish was around when I was a kid and could begin my love of history back then. With names I remember from history class and in the area that I live makes it all the more enticing for me, reading about things that happened in my backyard, or close to.

Broken Trail is taken on a journey of self-discovery, wrought with danger, remembering the past as well as to the future there are many obstacles and decisions that he has to make along the way. When people from his past appear he has to deal with it along with people who mistrust him - he is white but dressed as a Oneida.

There are three other books that revolve around the characters and time period which I hope to get to in the coming weeks. These are definitely books I recommend, especially for middle-grade ages, a perfect introduction to historical fiction and some of the events that shaped this country.

This book is from my personal library and part of my reading off my shelf challenge for 2019.

Review: The Way Lies North (Loyalist/Forging a Nation #1) by Jean Rae Baxter

This young adult historical novel focuses on Charlotte and her family, Loyalists who are forced to flee their home in the Mohawk Valley as a result of the violence of the 'Sons of Liberty' during the American Revolution.

At the beginning, fifteen-year-old Charlotte Hooper and her parents begin the long trek north to the safety of Fort Haldimand (near present-day Kingston). The novel portrays Charlotte's struggle on the difficult journey north, and the even more difficult task of making a new home in British Canada.

In the flight north, the Mohawk nation plays an important role, and Charlotte learns much about their customs and way of life, to the point where she is renamed 'Woman of Two Worlds.'

Later in the novel, she is able to repay her aboriginal friends when she plays an important part in helping the Oneidas to become once again members of the Iroquois confederacy under British protection. Strong and capable, Charlotte breaks the stereotype of the eighteenth-century woman, while revealing a positive relationship between the Loyalists and aboriginal peoples.

Paperback, 340 pages

Published September 1st, 2007

by Ronsdale Press

****

Canadian historical is a favorite of mine and a genre I plan to read more of this year. It was through a kid-lit writing course I took last year that I was introduced to Jean Rae Baxter. A Canadian author who has written a series of books taking place during the early year of this great nation.

Introduced to Charlotte, a 15-year-old Loyalist in 1777, who along with her parents flee to the north during the American Revolution. This book is geared for middle grade and up, it gives the young reader a look at what those loyal to the King endured in his name. It’s realistic, believable and appears to stay true to history. It’s a tough journey these three take, with many obstacles and setbacks along the way.  The role of the Mohawks and Oneida plays out nicely as well.

The author has penned 3 other books with other characters introduced here, ones I am looking forward to reading about.

This book is part of my 2019 reading off my shelf challenge (1).